Museum Manners

Teachers and adult chaperones are responsible for students’ conduct and observance of these museum manners while at the Museum. We thank you for discussing these rules in advance with your students to ensure a quality visit for your group and for other Museum visitors. One chaperone per 10 students is desired. We ask that chaperones stay with the group for the duration of the tour.

If Museum Staff feel that the safety of the collection is in any way jeopardized, or that you have failed to adequately supervise your students, your group may be asked to leave the Museum.

When visiting, please use your best Museum Manners:

Do Not Touch - Works of art are fragile and it is the Museum's job to protect them for future generations. While your hands may seem clean, there are always oils on your hands that can damage the paintings, drawings, and sculptures. All works of art at the Museum are one-of-a-kind objects, and cannot be replaced.

Protect the Art - It is a good idea to stand about 3 feet away from works of art. While at the Museum, you will notice Museum Security Officers in all the galleries. It is their job to make sure that the works of art are safe at all times. If they think you are too close to a work of art, they will tell you to step back.

Food, drinks & gum are not permitted in the Museum - Spilled food, drinks, and gum can pose a real threat to the preservation of fine art and need to be left on the bus or put in the trash.

Put away your coats, hats, umbrellas, & bags - Store these items on the Museum coat hooks. Coats and accessories can be bulky and damage a work of art without you being aware of it.

Raise your hand - It is difficult to hear one another in the galleries and it is important to respect the ideas of others. We want you to ask questions and to share your thoughts, so please be considerate and raise your hand first.

Stay with your group - Chaperones need to help make sure children remain with their class or group and don’t wander.

Wear nametags - Having students, particularly younger students, wear name tags is incredibly helpful for our Museum Docents and Educators to interact on a more personal level with your class.

No running - You could bump into something and hurt yourself or a work of art.